The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier Clay Is The New One Book One Chicago

• Random House
• !!!

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon is the new One Book, One Chicago for 2014-15, Brian Bannon, the Chicago Public Library commissioner, announced at the Harold Washington Library earlier this afternoon. There was applause and also a whoop, which OK, came from me. And I tried to feel guilty about it because it was the library, but I didn’t really, because Kavalier & Clay is one of the most joyous reading experiences I have ever had, and the more people who experience that joy, the better our city will be. I am not kidding.

The theme of heroism was the ultimate reason the One Book, One Chicago committee, comprised of Bannon, his deputy Andrea Sáenz, and adult services director Craig Davis, chose Kavalier & Clay, its Pulitzer Prize (2001) notwithstanding, says Mary Beth Kraft of the library’s press office. “They were presented with several choices and themes, and that one really stood out,” she says. “The novel and theme and subsequent programming came together really well.”